Teaching Your Toddler | weekly fun activities for your toddler

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Theme for the Week February 8th-12th - Valentine's Day!

Did you know over 200 million Valentines will be sent this year? This is the second-largest card-giving holiday behind Christmas. Let's get the week going by making a fun keepsake handprint craft, learn how to draw a heart, learning the signs for Heart, Friend and I love You, learn how to say "Heart" in Spanish, and much more. Have a great week!

Letter of the Week: V - for valentine. Point out things that start with "V" - van, violet, violin. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital V and a lower case v. Draw a V on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well.

Number of the Week: 14 - When you show your child anything say "14 violet conversation hearts" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 14. Write the number 14 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 14 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three..." - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Five Pretty Valentines - This is a cute, short counting song that you use your toddler's name in while you sing. There are a bunch of others on this link from The Holiday Zone.

Story of the Week: Valentine's Day Books - Here is a whole list of Valentine's Day books for toddlers and preschoolers. If you can't find them at your local library, you can try Amazon.com. Recently, I searched my local library on-line and placed holds on all the books I wanted and in a couple of days, they were ready to pick up. Instead of trying to browse the shelves with a busy toddler, I picked them up, checked them out and was on my way. Here's a link to public libraries in the United States if you'd like to see if your local branch is here.

Snack of the Week: White Chocolate-Dipped Pretzel Knots - Since pretzel knots look like hearts, we thought this would be fun - but it's messy! Buy a bag of mini pretzel knots, either white chocolate chips or melting chocolate, and red decorators sugar. Melt the chocolate, dip the pretzels in, place them on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper, sprinkle them with sugar and put the sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Store them in an airtight container.

Spanish Words of the Week: heart - el corazón, Valentine's Day - el día de San Valentín, chocolate - el chocolate (cho-co-la-tay). Also check out the BBC's Muzzy from Early Advantage for teaching Spanish (or many other languages) to your child. They are fabulous!

Do It Myself: Draw a heart or identify a heart. Show your child the shape of a heart and say "heart". If he or she likes to draw, you can help them trace around a heart you've cut out or you can guide their hand to draw a heart.

Activity of the Week: Handprint Heart - This is the cutest heart made from two handprints on top of one another. You'll need two colors of paint - the example has purple and pink. This is a great keepsake to send to Grandma as her Valentine or for the refrigerator.

Yoga Pose: Fish Pose - While this doesn't seem heart-related, it is what is called a "heart-opener" pose. It is also a great chest stretch. My older kids used to love this pose. It feels fantastic. Thanks to Yoga Journal for this link. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Heart, Love, Friend, I Love You. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Hope you have a wonderful week! Take this week's survey here.

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Theme for the Week July 20th-24th Man on the Moon

In honor of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, we have activities to celebrate this amazing journey. Coincidently, in 1976, Viking 1 landed on Mars as well so July 20th was a big day for the US space program!

Letter of the Week: A - in honor of Apollo 11 and astronauts and Hank Aaron hit his 755th homerun (and his last) on this date in 1976 - point out things that start with "A" - apple, attic, air conditioner, around, arm, America. Show them a picture of both a capital A and a lower case a. Draw an A on paper, or use their finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show them this letter as well.

Number of the Week: 11 - When you show your child anything say "11 apples". Your child might know how to count to 10 so 11 is good to introduce as what comes next. Write the number 11 on paper. Show them 11 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: I Don't Want to Live on the Moon and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, in case you aren't familiar with the first one. Click on the titles to take you to a website that gives you the tune and the lyrics - there's way more words to Twinkle Twinkle than you might think!

Story of the Week: Good Night Moon - A Classic we couldn't resist for this week. If you don't have access to the library, this book is still widely available at Target, Borders or other bookstores.

Snack of the Week: Yogurt Puffs - This is a snack available in the Baby aisle at the grocery store. We chose this because this snack is just like the freeze dried ice cream that the astronauts supposedly eat while in space. It melts on your tongue so your child should have no trouble eating this snack.

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Do-It-Myself Activity: Putting your clothes in the hamper. No matter how old your little one is, as long as he or she can walk, they can put their clothes into the hamper when you are getting them dressed for bed at night. It's great to get this habit started now and can make your job easier later!

Spanish Words of the Week: la luna - moon, las estrellas - stars, el astronauta - astronaut

Game of the Week: Edible Arithmetic - M&Ms work best but if your toddler is too small to eat something that little, use other objects that are multi-colored. Sort them by color and have your toddler count them and tell you which pile has more. Then have them eat enough to make the piles even (if you are using something edible!) Ask him/her how many of each color there are to practice counting. You can also ask if you have 2 blue and 3 green, how many do you have to start introducing addition (and them subtraction, when they eat some.)

This activity is inspired by page 89 of the book "Bright Start - Activities to Develop your Child's Potential" by Michael Meyerhoff, Ed. D. Here is the link for the book - I believe it is out of print but you may be able to get a copy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bright-start-Activities-develop-potential/dp/0785349022/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246162666&sr=1-4

Yoga Pose: Half Moon Pose - This might be a little hard for a toddler but you can modify for them by not having them take one foot off the ground. Click on the words for a link to a picture of this pose. My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Moon and Sun - Now you will be able to show them what they see in the sky. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

Like we say every week - don't forget to give your toddler a hug and say "I love you" as many times a day as you can think of! You can never give them enough love. Talk to them, even though they may not talk back and read to them everyday - even if it's the cereal box at breakfast. Enjoy!

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Theme for the Week July 27th-July 31st: Peter Rabbit and the garden

What a wonderful character to inspire us for this week - Peter Rabbit. We've used the theme of rabbits and gardens for our activities this week. We hope you enjoy the fun of the British icon. The official website for all things Beatrix Potter/Peter Rabbit is here.

Letter of the Week: R - for Rabbit - point out things that start with "R" - rabbit, raisin, radish, round, rhinestone, road . Show them a picture of both a capital R and a lower case r. Draw a R on paper, or use their finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show them this letter as well.

Number of the Week: 6 - When you show your child anything say "6 rabbits". Count to 6. Write the number 6 on paper. Show them 6 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Little Bunny Foo Foo - Click on the title to take you to a website that gives you the tune and the lyrics - We couldn't find a song about Peter Rabbit so this is as close as it gets. If you know of one, please send it to ideas@teachingyourtoddler.com

Story of the Week: The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Of course - but don't forget Beatrix Potter wrote tons of other books - Squirrel Nutkin, Benjamin Bunny, etc. If you don't have access to the library, click on the title and it will take you to the store on the Peter Rabbit website.

Snack of the Week: Carrots and Dip - Since Peter's favorite food is carrots, how could we resist this as our snack? You can use Ranch or Hummus for dip or even Yogurt. Just make sure your child is old enough to chew and eat a carrot. If not, you can use cooked broccoli, chips or other softer foods.

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Do-It-Myself Activity: Feed the bunnies. I don't know about your yard, but our yard is full of bunnies. So, you can encourage your toddler to give them a small treat like a carrot or an apple. Just leave it under a bush or in a hidden place and then check in a little while to see if they've taken it or not. Then maybe they'll leave your garden alone!

Spanish Words of the Week: el conejo - rabbit, el jardin - garden , la zanahoria - carrot

Activity of the Week: Rabbit Picture - here is a printable picture of a rabbit for your little one to color. You can print multiple copies and let them decorate it differently each day - color, markers, watercolors, macaroni with glue, etc. If you think your toddler is old enough, you could have him/her try to cut this out. The outline is very simple. Please supervise them cutting if you choose that idea.

Yoga Pose: Rabbit Pose - This is pretty easy if you start in Child Pose plus it stretches your neck really well. They even say this is a good one if you have a stuffy nose. Click on the words for a link to a picture of this pose. My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Rabbit and Bunny - There are two ways to make this sign so we included both here. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

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Theme for the Week August 3rd-7th: Colorado Statehood

Happy 133rd Birthday, Colorado! In honor of the statehood anniversary of our beautiful state, we will celebrate with all things inspired by Colorado and the mountains. Colorado is the 8th largest state in land area, the 22nd largest in population and the 37th largest in population density. Our largest ethnic background is German and we have the 5th largest Hispanic population according to Wikipedia. Residents of the state are called "Coloradans" or if you're old-school, "Coloradoans" - and there are just under 5 million of us in the state. Our capital is Denver, which is also our most populous city.

Letter of the Week: M - for Mountain - point out things that start with "M" - mountain, mouth, mommy, more, mouse, moon (which is full this week) . Show them a picture of both a capital M and a lower case m. Draw an M on paper, or use their finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show them this letter as well.

Number of the Week: 8 - For August, the 8th month. When you show your child anything say "8 mice". Count to 8. Write the number 8 on paper. Show them 8 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: The Bear Went Over the Mountain - Click on the title to take you to a website that gives you the tune and the lyrics

Story of the Week: The Bear Went Over the Mountain - This book is by Rosemary Wells, who does such sweet illustrations. It is also a board book so your toddler can be a little rough on it. If you can't find it at the library, you can order it from Amazon by clicking this link.

Snack of the Week: Cheese Quesadillas in honor of our large Hispanic population. This will be a snack you will most likely want to make yourself, although you could have your little one help sprinkle the cheese on the flour tortilla before you heat it in a skillet. You can add other things to the inside if you'd like such as chicken, peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc. Click the words and you'll get a great super easy recipe with step-by-step pictures.

Do-It-Myself Activity: Cleaning the Windows - Kids love a squirt bottle and a cloth to spray the windows and "clean" - your windows probably won't look sparkling clean but your toddler will be so proud to help do some of the cleaning! We recommend plain water for cleaning in case they spray themselves.

Spanish Words of the Week: las montanas - mountains, el oso - bear , la aguila - eagle

Activity of the Week: Gather Nature - take your toddler outside - at the park, in your backyard, on a hike - and gather anything they find. When you get home, sort through the items and categorize them - hard/soft, light/heavy, by color and by what it is - rocks, feathers, acorns, etc. This activity was inspired by an activity in the book Bright Start: Activities to Develop Your Child's Potential, which is fantastic but may be out of print.

Yoga Pose: Mountain - This is the easiest pose in yoga and is the starting pose for almost all standing positions. Click on the words for a link to a picture of this pose. My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Mountain and Bear and Moose - Some signs that represent some of the things in our beautiful state. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

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Theme for the Week August 17th-21st: Rock and Roll!

With such a busy week in Rock and Roll history, it seems like the perfect time to start introducing some rock and roll to your toddler, if you haven't already. Forty years ago this past weekend, Woodstock took place and in 1960, the Beatles made their first trip to the States. Just 7 years later, their hit "All You Need is Love" was #1 this week and in 1956, Elvis' hit "Don't be Cruel" was number one. So, we have a lot to celebrate for music and for "rock" this week!

Letter of the Week: W - for Woodstock since we recently had "R" - point out things that start with "W" - wood, window, why, wall, wave . Show them a picture of both a capital W and a lower case w. Draw a W on paper, or use their finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show them this letter as well. We recently found some flashcards at Target in the $1 bin - you could start using those during meals a little at a time.

Number of the Week: 4 - For the 40th Anniversary - if you want to show your child 40 that's ok too. When you show your child anything say "4 walls" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 4. Write the number 4 on paper. Show them 4 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: It's hard to choose what great song to use this week. You could definitely use any of the Beatle's songs or Elvis's songs. Also we recently found this great kid musician DaddyAGoGo - very cute original kid songs as well as remakes of some old favorites. Check it out!

Story of the Week: Arthur - It's Only Rock and Roll - We love Arthur books and Marc Brown. This is a story book so you might not make it all the way through with your toddler but you can show him/her the pictures and highlight the story instead of reading every word. If you can't find this book in the library this week, you can click on the title and buy it on Amazon.

Snack of the Week: In honor of Elvis, who supposedly used to like fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, you can try peanut butter and bananas on crackers or a piece of bread for a snack. If your toddler has a peanut allergy, you can substitute soy butter instead.

Do-It-Myself Activity: Sweep Up - Put on some awesome rock and roll music and give your little one a broom to sweep the floor. If you have two brooms, you can sweep together. You might not get the floor super clean but you'll have fun doing it and get a little exercise!

Spanish Words of the Week: la musica = music, la peidra = rock (like from the ground) , el ritmo = the beat (of the music)

Activity of the Week: What Floats? - This is an activity they do at Montessori schools. Get a bucket, bowl or tub of water and gather several objects of various size and density - like a rock, a plastic toy, a paper clip, etc. First show them one that sinks and one that floats by putting the object in the water. Next have them tell you if they think the object will sink or float. The more objects the better. You might want to try this one outside or at the sink because it can get a little messy!

Yoga Pose: Lotus - We chose this one because it's easy and it involves a little "rocking". My older kids use to sit in this pose and say "om" when I wanted them to calm down. Click on the words for a link to a picture of this pose. My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Music and Guitar - Both of these signs are pretty intuitive If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week August 24th-28th: The Planets

The Planets - 3 years ago Pluto was "demoted" to a dwarf planet, although we'll certainly never forget it! This week has also had several significant space missions in the past including the Mars Observer came as close as it ever did in 1993, Voyager 2 flew past Neptune in 1989 and the Soyuz 21 returned to Earth in 1976. While this concept might be a little advanced, you can still talk about how we live on Earth and show them stars or planets in the sky or in pictures.

Here's a fun sentence to remember the order of the planets - My Very Energetic Monkey Just

Served Us Noodles (you still have to just remember that the first M is Mercury and the second one is Mars). And here is a sentence to remember the order by size from smallest to biggest: Mermaids Make Very Edible Noshes Using Seaweed Jello. This week our activities are inspired by our 8 great planets.

Letter of the Week: P - for Planets - point out things that start with "P" - pea, pears, plate, pinecone. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital P and a lower case p. Draw a P on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. We recently found some flashcards at Target in the $1 bin - you could start using those during meals a little at a time.

Number of the Week: 8 - For the 8 planets. When you show your child anything say "8 pears" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 8. Write the number 8 on paper. Show your child 8 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: We found the cutest British song called Flying from the Sun to the Stars - it's so catchy, you'll be singing it all week! Click on the title for a video that you can watch with your toddler.

Story of the Week: If You Decide to Go to the Moon - We found this book listed on Alibris, a great book website. It might be a little advanced but you'll enjoy reading it. Written in the 2nd Person, it tells you what to expect if you go to the moon. Cute book!

Snack of the Week: Yellow Pepper Sun - This is a cute healthy snack made with a carrot slice and a yellow pepper. You can try hummus or yogurt for dip for the vegetables. If you child doesn't like peppers, you could substitute more carrots or string cheese.

Spanish Words of the Week: la tierra = earth, la planeta = planet , el Saturno = Saturn

Activity of the Week: Solar System coloring book - This downloadable coloring book has fun facts about the planets, which may be too much for your little one, but you might learn a thing or two! We found this one on about.com.

Yoga Pose: Sun Salutation - Sun Salutations are what you do in the morning to wake up your spine and your body. This link shows you the different poses involved and while your toddler might lose interest, it will make you feel more awake! My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Earth and Star - If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week August 31st - September 4th: Games!

Children love to play games - peekaboo, chase me, pattycake from a very early age. This week, we introduce a few games for you to play with your toddler. You will need to see what he/she is ready for - a board game might not work just yet but an iSpy book or picture find might work. You just need to see what your toddler is "game" for! Have a great week.

Letter of the Week: G - for Games - point out things that start with "G" - green, go, game, glad. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital G and a lower case g. Draw a G on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. We recently found some flashcards at Target in the $1 bin - you could start using those during meals a little at a time.

Number of the Week: 7 - When you show your child anything say "7 green beans" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 7. Write the number 7 on paper. Show your child 7 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: This Old Man - It was hard to choose this week because there are so many songs out there that are fun counting songs to help learn numbers, etc - The Ants Go Marching, 5 Little Ducks, etc. For other learning songs, try this website.

Story of the Week: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes - Such a fun book that helps teach a few body parts. Even if your toddler doesn't get the motions, just hearing the song helps them learn. If you can't find it at the library this week, you could buy it at this link to Amazon.

Snack of the Week: Cheese and Crackers - stack cheese on crackers like checkers when you make a king. Or you can layer sliced veggies such as cucumbers and thinly-sliced carrots for the same effect. Plus, it's fun to stack food - let your toddler play a little.

Spanish Words of the Week: el juego = game, el ajedrez = chess , el pelota = ball

Activity of the Week: Games! - iSpy matching game, stacking blocks or cups, roll the ball, wooden puzzles, and maybe for the older toddlers a board game such as Candyland or Chutes and Ladders. Both of these board games are very easy to understand. Or, just sit on the floor and roll the ball back and forth.

Yoga Pose: Fish Pose - Ok it's a stretch but we couldn't find a pose that was "game-oriented" so we're going with the Bobby Fischer reference above. My older kids always loved this one and it makes our backs feel great too!. PS - My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Play and Ball - Both of these signs are super easy. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week September 14th-18th - Heroes

This week we celebrate the heroes that helped out during the incredible tragedy of September 11, 2001. Of course you will most likely not talk about the events of that day but you can start to introduce the concept of a hero to your toddler. There are many heroes in our lives - police officers, firefighters, the soldiers who protect us as well as heroes of storybooks - knights and princes. Even your child can be a hero by helping out an animal, sibling or neighbor. Just show them how!

We have heroes all around us everyday. The police and firefighters keep us safe. Our soldiers help keep us free. Even our friends and neighbors help when we need things so it's great to start teaching your child about real heroes in their lives, along with the heroes they read about in stories or see the Super Heroes on tv. This week, we've included some fun ways to introduce the concept of a hero to your toddler. Enjoy!

Letter of the Week: H - for Hero - point out things that start with "H" - hand, head, high, ham. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital H and a lower case h. Draw an H on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. You can even use flashcards during meals a little at a time.

Number of the Week: 9 - When you show your child anything say "9 green beans" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 9. Write the number 9 on paper. Show your child 9 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Johnny Comes Marching Home - This song was written in the Civil War for the soldiers and it has the same tune as The Ants Go Marching so if you'd rather have a more "kid-friendly" song, here's a link to that one too!

Story of the Week: The Gigantic Little Hero: A Story About Perseverance - This little book has a great message and even if you can't get the entire book read before your child wanders off, it still introduces the concept of not giving up and being a hero. If you can't find it at the library this week, you could buy it at this link to Amazon. Also, if you search "Hero" in the children's section of Amazon, you get a ton of titles so if you need more ideas, just check it out.

Snack of the Week: Hero Sandwich - what else? You don't have to make a traditional hero - if you are making a sandwich for your child, just pile on a couple of extras this week - maybe some lettuce or a slice of tomato. A hero sandwich is really just a deli sandwich with a bunch of stuff on it so go ahead and try it!

Spanish Words of the Week: hero = el heroe or la heroina, police = la policia, firefighter = el bombero, soldier = el soldado

Do It Myself: Marching - this is a fun thing for toddlers to try. Have them march around the room or the yard. You can put on the music from above and have them march in place. Show them how and use your arms too. Great exercise and fun!

Activity of the Week: Fire Truck Printable - Act out the Story - We included two this week in case your toddler isn't quite ready for acting out the story. The printable is a fire truck that you can print and have them color or decorate with crayons, colored pencils, glue stick and craft items. Just be sure they don't put anything small in their mouths. Click the link to get the picture to print. The other activity comes from page 93 of Bright Start: Activities to Develop Your Child's Potential by Michael Meyerhoff, Ed.D. which I believe is out of print but has fantastic age-appropriate ideas so look for it here or at your favorite reseller. Get a favorite book and have your toddler act out what happens as you read to him/her. Makes the story more real, and helps them comprehend it better!

Yoga Pose: Hero Pose - Super easy and a great stretch for your upper thighs. Feels great and your toddler should be able to do it with you. PS - My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Hero and Police and Soldier and Firefighter - Hero is a combination of "Boy" and "Brave". If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week September 21st-25th - Autumn

This week we celebrate the beginning of Fall on September 22 with lots of activities that focus on nature as we reap the harvest of the summer and we enjoy Nature's colors before the earth goes dormant for Winter.

This week we celebrate the beginning of Autumn or Fall, which officially begins on September 22nd. This is an equinox, which means the pull of the tides is equal on the earth. This is one of the two days each year that you can stand an egg on it's end, without it rolling over. The night and day are the same length or "equal". So let's celebrate the earth as she gets ready for winter and we're reaping the fruits of the harvest.

Letter of the Week: F - for Fall - point out things that start with "F" - father, falling leaves, fall down, feather. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital F and a lower case f. Draw an F on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. You can even use flashcards during meals a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 2 - When you show your child anything say "2 feathers" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 2. Write the number 2 on paper. Show your child 2 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" - so your child gets used to the pattern. If your toddler is 2, show them how to make the number 2 with their fingers to show how old he/she is.

Songs of the Week: Autumn Leaves are A-Falling - This is a really cute song with simple lyrics and fun hand motions your toddler will enjoy.

Story of the Week: Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur, Leslie Evans (Illustrator)

- This is a beautifully illustrated book that teaches about Autumn and the alphabet and also forms words from the first word of each line in the verses on each page. If you can't find it at the library this week, you could buy it at this link to Amazon. Definitely check out the page shots of the book to see what we're talking about.

Snack of the Week: Apples - They are in season now. The kinds we like most are Honey Crisp, Braeburn or Galas. Pair the apple slices with cheese (especially sharp cheddar), peanut butter (or other nut butter if your toddler has allergies) or in honor of Rosh Hashanah - honey, which we tried this weekend and LOVED! Here is a simple recipe for baked apples which sounds delicious and will make your house smell wonderful!

Spanish Words of the Week: el otoño = autumn, la hoja = leaf, los colores = colors

Do It Myself: Gathering Leaves - Now that there are so many things on the ground, you can send your toddler out into the yard or at the park to collect pretty leaves, acorns, seed pods, small pinecones, etc. and use these items for the activity below.

Activity of the Week: Autumn Nature Collage - This is an easy no-glue activity that uses contact paper for the back of the collage. If the items your toddler collected are too heavy for this, you can supervise them gluing onto colored construction paper or make a mobile out of the leaves by tying string to the leaves/pinecones, etc and hang them from a coat hanger.

Yoga Pose: Tree Pose - This pose is a little bit hard without practice so you can modify it by putting your foot on top of your other foot or putting your foot on your opposite calf. PS - My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Tree and Leaf and Red and Yellow - If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week September 28th-October 3rd - Airplanes

This week we look at airplanes and things that fly since BOAC started flying the first passenger fights between London and New York on Oct 4th, 1958. Flying is something we take for granted now - fly to grandma's, fly to vacation, parents fly away on business. All of my children flew as babies - my first flight was when I was 14! Point out airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, even blimps if you see one in the sky this week.

Letter of the Week: P - for plane - point out things that start with "P" - plane in the sky, plate, paper, peaches, peas. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital P and a lower case p. Draw a P on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 8 - When you show your child anything say "8 peas" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 8. Write the number 8 on paper. Show your child 8 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Airplane Songs - This website link has several cute action songs about airplanes that you can do with your toddler. Click on the link to go directly there and scroll down a little bit.

Story of the Week: Airport - by Byron Barton

- This is a fun little book about going to the airport with simple words and bright illustrations. If you can't find it at the library this week, you could buy it at this link to Barnes and Noble. This would be a great book if you are going on a trip soon.

Snack of the Week: Airplane snacks - Instead of having a specific snack this week, we thought we would suggest some good snacks to take on an airplane ride (or any trip - short or long) - goldfish, cereal like Cheerios or Mini Wheats, fruit strips, string cheese or fruit but make sure you bring a baggie for the peels/core/etc.

The one thing we suggest is to pace yourself on giving out the snacks, and once the snack is out, give them a little at a time so you have plenty of time, especially on long plane rides. This holds true for toys and games as well! Here's a great link to a website about airplane snacks and traveling with kids. Make sure you read the discussion comments down below too. The one thing I did see here is I wouldn't bring a hard-boiled egg on board (or tuna either). Your fellow passengers might not be too appreciative - as if traveling near a toddler is high on their list anyway...

Spanish Words of the Week: el avión = airplane, volar or correr = to fly, el piloto/la pilota = pilot

Do It Myself: What Flies? - Gather several items together that will float or fall quickly - scarf, rock, pilot seed pod, toy airplane, etc and have your toddler stand on a porch, deck, step stool. Let him/her toss the items up in the air and see what floats to the ground and what falls fast. Talk about flying and why some things float and some sink.

Activity of the Week: Paper Airplane - You will have to help your toddler fold and crease the paper but he/she will have fun throwing it when it's done. We suggest making several since they will most likely end up crushed or crinkled! Use fun colored or patterned paper and have your child decorate their plane with crayons or markers. This website actually has video of the folding in case you are "engineering-challenged" like us!

Yoga Pose: Airplane Pose - This pose is super easy and fun and this website has a video too. You can make flying sounds too when you are showing your toddler. Try each leg for developing balance PS - My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Airplane and Helicopter If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week October 5th-October 9th - PBS

Public Television - Public Broadcasting System (PBS) began broadcasting this week in 1970. Now, besides amazing programming geared to adults, PBS has many many kid-friendly shows. The best part is that they are all non-violent and have a positive message. While we don't recommend a ton of television for such a young age, if you are going to let them watch, PBS is a great place to go.

This week we look at all the wonderful resources that PBS offers to toddlers and their parents. There are SO many shows, besides the ground-breaking Sesame Street, to choose from - Angelina Ballerina, Arthur, Between the Lions, Sagwa The Chinese Siamese Cat, Caillou and the old favorites Barney and TeleTubbies. Now, with the internet, there are many other resources like games, songs, activities and many other fun things.

Also, there is a parents' website as well called PBS Parents for grown-ups that includes a really interesting child development calendar you might want to check out. Likewise, the Sesame Street website has an interesting development article for 2-Years olds. Again, the best part about PBS is that the shows are non-violent, positive in message and educational so while we recommend limited tv time, when you do allow for tv, PBS is a great choice. So this week we'll use some of the shows as inspiration for our activities.

Letter of the Week: S - for Sesame Street - point out things that start with "S" - sky, street, silly, scarf, socks. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital S and a lower case s. Draw an S on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 10 - When you show your child anything say "10 socks" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 10. Write the number 10 on paper. Show your child 10 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern. Since they have 10 fingers, have them count their fingers to start to equate objects with a number.

Songs of the Week: Sesame Street Theme - This website link is from the 70's theme. Here are the words too. The Sesame Street website has a ton of video links for songs and clips from the show.

Story of the Week: Elmo Board Books and Angelina Ballerina by Katherine Holabird - The illustrations in the Angelina books are so beautiful but the stories have a lot of works. We included the Elmo books because this specific series are "lift-the-flap" books - my 18-month-old just LOVES reading these and lifting the flaps. He wants me to read them over and over. If you can't find these at the library this week, you can click the links above to go to Amazon.

Snack of the Week: Animal Crackers - Since SO many of the shows on PBS are about animals, we chose this simple, low-sugar snack that kids love. You can dip them in yogurt or nut butter to make them more appealing. There are several organic versions as well.

Spanish Words of the Week: el ratón = mouse, el monstruo = monster, la calle = street

Do It Myself: Sesame Street Exercise Video - We thought this would be a fun way to get some exercise with your toddler and they'll enjoy the videos too.

Activity of the Week: Dinosaur Train- this is a new show and a new site. The link is for a game to play on the computer. If you aren't inclined to have your toddler sit at the computer, the link also has printables you can print for them to color and decorate.

Yoga Pose: Cat Pose - This pose is a great stretch for your back and can be fun if you meow with your toddler. We chose this in honor of Sagwa The Chinese Siamese Cat, which is just a wonderful show! PS - My kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Mouse and Dinosaur and Lion. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week October 12th-October 16th - Boats and What Floats

Boats and What Floats - Since this week we recognize Christopher Columbus on October 12, the theme for the week is boats, since explaining his exploration of America to a toddler is probably a bit sophisticated. We'll explore boats and things that float. And to any Canadian readers - Happy Thanksgiving!

This week we have activities that help your toddler learn about boats and how things float. Since Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas in a boat, we take that as inspiration for learning more about boats.

Letter of the Week: T - for tugboat and Thanksgiving (since we've already done B recently) - point out things that start with "T" - television, tiger, tray, toddler. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital T and a lower case t. Draw a T on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 14 (for 1492) - When you show your child anything say "14 socks" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 14. Write the number 14 on paper. Show your child 14 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" etc - so your child gets used to the pattern. Don't be afraid to introduce the 2-digit numbers to them - even if they don't repeat; they are listening.

Songs of the Week: Sailing, Sailing - I don't know about you all, but we've never really known the words to this song, just the tune. So here's a link that gives you both.

Story of the Week: Boats Lap Edition- by Byron Barton. This is a simple board book that introduces several types of boat. If you can't find this at the library this week, you can click the links above to go to Amazon.

Snack of the Week: Raft Crackers - Take a cracker - soda, club, graham and add a piece of cheese or some peanut butter or other favorite topping - hummus, ranch dip, marshmallow whip and call it a "raft" - You could use some hummus to adhere a piece of cheese to a pretzel stick to make a "sail" - stick the pretzel stick into some more cheese to make it stand up.

Spanish Words of the Week: el barco = boat, navegar = to sail, el día de Acción de Gracias = Thanksgiving

Do It Myself: What Floats? - Take a tub of water or fill the sink up with water and collect objects - both ones that will float and those that will sink. Let your toddler put the object in the water to see if they float or not. You can also try this in the bath tub.

Activity of the Week: Make a Boat - this is a 2-D boat that uses shapes to make the boat - triangles, rectangles, half circle. You can cut the shapes and help your little one arrange them into the shape of a boat.

Yoga Pose: Boat Pose - This is a tough pose because it uses your abdominals. For some reason, kids usually have no trouble with this pose. It's the adults who are challenged. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler. Check it out here: http://www.yogakids.com/

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Boat and Thank You. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week October 19th-23rd - Halloween Part I

Halloween Part I (no it's not a horror movie theme!) - Since it's less than 2 weeks to Halloween/Samhain/El Dia de Los Muertos, we thought we could start celebrating a little early with some activities this week and next. Be sure you come back next week for more Halloween fun!

While Halloween can be a bit scary for some, it can also be a whole lot of fun - dressing up, making crafts, staying up a little late, carving pumpkins, etc. Make sure if you have older children too that you are stay aware of what they might be doing - their costumes or decorations, what they're watching on TV, etc as that can be a little much for your toddler.

Letter of the Week: D - for All Soul's Day (since we did H recently) - point out things that start with "D" - dog, duck, drop, drive. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital D and a lower case d. Draw a D on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - while he isn't identify them correctly, he does make "sounds" when he sees them because he knows that's what I do. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 3 (for 31) - When you show your child anything say "3 socks" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 3. Write the number 3 on paper. Show your child 3 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. I've been showing my toddler three fingers when I count to 3 and now he tries to count like that when I repeat.

Songs of the Week: 5 Little Pumpkins - I first heard this song when my older kids came home from preschool. They couldn't stop singing it. It's a great one because you can count to 5 on your fingers while you sing.

Story of the Week: Halloween Books Suggestions from Apples4theteacher. There are SO many fun Halloween books out there, we just couldn't pick one. This website is fabulous in general, but this particular link is great because it lists the ISBN numbers so you can check on-line with your library before you go to know if the book is in or not. If you can't find these books at the library this week, you can look on on-line for your favorite book seller.

Snack of the Week: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds - This recipe is adapted from the recipe on page 18 of Halloween Treats - by Donata Maggipinto. You can help your toddler with the pumpkin carving, and make this recipe afterwards.

2 Cups pumpkin seeds

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tsp salt (or to taste)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Rinse the seeds, remove any strings and pat dry. Transfer seeds to a large bowl and add vegetable oil and salt, stirring until the seed are coated. Spread seeds on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until they are crisp - 12-15 minutes. You can also use olive oil and rosemary and basil or chili power, curry powder or I always use Seasoned Salt.

Spanish Words of the Week: el gato = cat, el espectro or la fantasma = ghost, la calabaza = pumpkin, el día de Los Muertos = The Day of the Dead

Do It Myself: Pumpkin Scooping - What kid doesn't like getting elbow-deep in a pumpkin? Of course, you will do all the cutting but your toddler can "help" take the seeds out. Just make sure you cover the table with newspaper and put your child in a shirt you don't care about getting messy. My mantra every year is "We only do this one day a year...we only do this one day a year"

Activity of the Week: Carving a Pumpkin - We found a really cute website called The Pumpkin Lady and there are a TON of carving patterns to download. Some of you have to pay for but if you scroll to the bottom, you can see their free patterns. Or better yet, let your toddler draw their own. Consider just letting them draw on their pumpkin, as opposed to cutting it open. It's less mess but just as much fun for them.

Yoga Pose: Cat Pose - This is a great back stretch and is fun if you "meow" while you do it. Your little one will enjoy it even more!. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Cat Pose and Halloween. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week October 26th-30th - Halloween Part II

Halloween Part II - We started celebrating Halloween last week and this week, we'll keep the theme going with fun activities based around ghosts, fun witches, pumpkins and much more! Enjoy and tell your friends if you like us.

Welcome back to our Halloween celebration. We have some fun activities that aren't scary but can give your toddler a positive experience for the holiday. We hope you have great weather this week for Halloween activities like visiting the pumpkin patch and trick or treating.

Letter of the Week: J - for Jack O' Lantern - point out things that start with "J" - juice, jump, jog, jambo. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital J and a lower case j. Draw a J on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - while he isn't identify them correctly, he does make "sounds" when he sees them because he knows that's what I do. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 10 - When you show your child anything say "10 pieces of candy" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 10. Write the number 10 on paper. Show your child 10 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count.

Songs of the Week: Three Little Witches - This is a cute short little song that you can use to count to three. The tune is the same as "One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians"

Story of the Week: Halloween Books Suggestions from Apples4theteacher. I'm going to repeat this the same as last week. There are SO many fun Halloween books out there, we just couldn't pick one. This website is fabulous in general, but this particular link is great because it lists the ISBN numbers so you can check on-line with your library before you go to know if the book is in or not. If you can't find these books at the library this week, you can look on on-line for your favorite book seller.

Snack of the Week: Banana Ghosts - This recipe is from the Family Fun website. They have you cover a banana with melted white chocolate and add candy eyes. You could also cover the banana with white frosting or marshmallow creme. You can use raisins (if you're comfortable your toddler can safely eat them) or a dab of black frosting for the eyes. There are also a bunch of super fun ideas at the Parenting website. Just make sure they aren't too scary or are appropriate for your child's age.

Spanish Words of the Week: la bruja = witch, el dulce = candy, and there is no equivalent to "trick or treat" in Spanish since it's not a Latin holiday. My friend Jo who's first language was Spanish says they just said "trick or treat" when they were kids. Thanks Jo!

Do It Myself: Putting on Your Costume - I know, it might not work but you could at least let them try...It depends of course on what the costume is but it's a great time to let them try a little independence. Good luck! :)

Activity of the Week: Ghost Lollipop - You will most likely have to help a bit with this one but all you need is a bag of Tootsie Roll Lollipops (how many licks does it take to get to the center?), some facial tissues or tissue paper, rubber bands and a marker - you can get fancier if you want to help your toddler glue on google eyes. Put the tissue over the lollipop and put a rubber band around the "neck". Then let your toddler draw a face on the head and if you want, you can help them tie colored ribbon (like what you use for wrapping presents) around the neck or you can use black and orange pipe cleaners from a craft store. If you make several, you could even give them out to trick or treaters on Saturday night.

Yoga Pose: Half Moon Pose - This is a great back stretch and takes a little balance but you can leave your foot on the ground to make it a little easier. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Pumpkin and Ghost. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week November 1st-6th - Cars!

Cars! On November 1, 1927, Ford started making the Model A to replace the Tin Lizzie. It cost $460! It was a much improved design with a choice of several styles. This was a huge innovation for the car company, and for manufacturing in the United States. So this week, we'll have some fun with cars! What would we do without them?

Our cars are such a huge part of our everyday life - even if you live in the city, there's a good chance you get in a taxi often so you can appreciate what an important part of life the car plays. My toddler loves to play in our car while we're parked in the driveway - pushing buttons, "adjusting" the mirror, turning up the radio. Of course, I never leave him unattended and I always have the parking brake on! If you click on "November 1st" above it takes you to an interesting website with other historic events from this day.

Letter of the Week: L - for "Lizzie" - point out things that start with "L" - lemon, light, loud. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital L and a lower case l. Draw an L on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - while he isn't identify them correctly, he does make "sounds" when he sees them because he knows that's what I do. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 4 - When you show your child anything say "4 lemons" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 4. Write the number 4 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 4 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count.

Songs of the Week: Over the Mountains- This is a really cute little song and if you click on the "CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SONG" it plays a video for the song too. It's catchy! Check out the rest of the British Council website- There are tons of fun things to do!

Story of the Week: Cars & Trucks & Things that Go by Richard Scarry. This isn't our typical storybook selection but Richard Scarry books are just so fun and have great illustrations. Your toddler may not read the book cover to cover but there are plenty of fun pictures to look at. If you can't find these books at the library this week, you can look on on-line for your favorite book seller.

Snack of the Week: Snacks for the Car - This website gives some suggestions for what to bring in the car when you are out - just make sure you use your best judgement on what's appropriate for your child - they suggest grapes, which are fine but I still quarter grapes for my toddler. Cereal - like Cheerios, string cheese, animal crackers, etc. Also, make sure someone is watching your toddler if you all are going to be eating in the car in case he or she does choke.

Spanish Words of the Week: el coche or el carro = car, conducir = to drive, adiós = good-bye

Do It Myself: Climb into Your Seat - With your help, let your toddler climb into the car and into his/her seat. Of course, you can give help when needed but instead of just hoisting them into their seat, this lets them control things a little. You'll still want to strap them into their car seat.

Activity of the Week: Car Shapes Craft - This is a really cute craft to make a paper car. This link gives you instructions and has a link to a printable template. The best part of this craft is that you can talk to your toddler about shapes while you help him/her glue the pieces together. You can customize your car with crayons/markers.

Yoga Pose: Bridge Pose - Since yoga was around way before the car, I had to stretch this a little. We do go over bridges in our cars :) PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Car and Go. I love this website- www.mybabycantalk.com - they have such great signs that are appropriate for toddlers. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week November 9th-13th - Germany!

Germany - to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, our theme for the week celebrates Germany and German things. If you have a world map or a globe, you might even show your child where Germany is on the map, along with the United States, so they can see where they are in relation to each other. Maybe even talk about how long of a plane ride that could be!

This is our first time commemorating a specific culture. Since it was such an important event - we chose Germany due to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Of course, you don't have to talk about that event but you can talk about Germany as a country. Maybe you even have German ancestors you could talk about too. This week, we'll learn more about Germany and learn about some German things.

Letter of the Week: G - for Germany - point out things that start with "G" - go, grape, gorilla. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital G and a lower case g. Draw a G on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - while he isn't identify them correctly, he does make "sounds" when he sees them because he knows that's what I do. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 20 - For the 20-year anniversary. When you show your child anything say "20 grapes" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 20. Write the number 20 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 20 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count. He can't count to 20 but it's ok to start counting that high now because they get the rhythm.

Songs of the Week: Guten Abend, gute Nacht (Good Evening/Good Night)- This link has both the German and English words and a video of some people singing it. The tune is the traditional lullaby you all most likely know the tune for.

Story of the Week: Grimm Fairy Tales - This might be a little cliché but this site has a bunch of stories and they are all right on the site with video - so cute and interactive for you and your toddler to watch.

Snack of the Week: käseigel - German Hedgehog - this is a super cute little snack that was a popular party snack in the 60's and 70's. The link is a photo the snack. You cover a melon half with foil and stick toothpicks into the melon. Then add whatever snacks you want to the toothpicks - cheese blocks, grapes (if appropriate), veggie pieces, really anything you can think of. The end product looks like a little hedgehog!

Spanish Words of the Week: Since it's Germany this week, we're including a couple words in German: Germany = Deutschland, hello = hallo, good morning = guten Morgen. Also in Spanish, you say German as alemán.

Activity of the Week: German Potato Stamp - This is a cute easy craft that you might need to help your toddler with in terms of cutting the pattern into the paper and with the paint for stamping. Make sure you put "craft clothes" on your little one that you don't mind if they get a little messy. Here is a link to making a paper chain in the German flag colors too.

Yoga Pose: Eagle Pose - The national bird of Germany is the Black Eagle. By the way, if you'd like to learn what national animals belong to other countries, click here (if you trust wikipedia). PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Germany and Eagle. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week November 16th-27th - Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving - The American tradition and since many people may be taking next week off or having family in town, we'll combine this week and next week together for a Thanksgiving celebration with fun turkey crafts, snacks, sign language and how to say "thank you." And of course, don't forget to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - such a treat!

We've included a little more than normal to help you have activities for both this week and next week. The link above is a kid-friendly (but still pretty advanced) history of Thanksgiving for you to read and then explain to your toddler, if appropriate. If nothing else, you just teach him or her how to say thank you in English, Spanish, sign language and how to say "namaste" which is how you honor the divine in others from the divine in yourself. There's almost nothing sweeter than to see a small person bowing with folded prayer hands saying "namaste."

Letter of the Week: T - for Thanksgiving and turkey - point out things that start with "T" - turkey, television, tomato, toilet. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital T and a lower case t. Draw a T on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - while he isn't identify them correctly, he does make "sounds" when he sees them because he knows that's what I do. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 1 - When you show your child anything say "1 turkey" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 1. Write the number 1 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 1 thing at a time and count them - "one" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count. My son knows he's one and can make the gesture when you ask him, so it can be done at this age even.

Songs of the Week: Thanksgiving is Coming Hurray - Cute (and short) little holiday song from Kididdles, which has so many children's songs. And who could forget Over the River and Through the Woods. This link has both music and lyrics.

Story of the Week: Thanks and Giving All Year Long - This is a great book from Marlo Thomas. It's a compilation of many stories, songs, poems, etc from famous people like Tiger Woods, Shel Silverstein, Sheryl Crow and many others. There's a dvd you can also get of the stories and songs as well. We still listen to it in the car for my older kids who are in 2nd and 3rd grade! We also found this cute board book of Over the River and Through the Woods in case you can find this at the library.

Snack of the Week: Turkey Toast - You can get creative in how you put this together and you also don't need a turkey cookie cutter; just make the outline of a handprint and cut the toast with a sharp knife. But this is a cute idea I had never seen before.

Spanish Words of the Week: Gracias = thanks, el día de Acción de Gracias = Thanksgiving, el pavo = turkey, oración = prayer

Activity of the Week: Pinecone Turkey - This is a cute idea from AmazingMoms.com - you may have to adjust for what's going to work for your little one. You can use construction paper for the feathers if you don't want to go get craft feathers. If nothing else, your toddler can pick out the pinecone bodies and you could put together the bird. Also, don't forget the always-popular handprint turkey. You can either make a print on paper of your child's hand or trace an outline of his/her hand on paper (that's what I'd recommend) and cut it out. Have your child color the feathers and add an eye and a waddle. I also saw a good idea - make one of these every year to track your toddler's growth!

Yoga Pose: Namaste- This is how to say you honor to divine in others and honor the divine in you. It's the way many yoga teachers begin and end their classes. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Thank You and Turkey and Pilgrim and Corn. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate. Happy Thanksgiving - have a safe and fun holiday!

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Theme for the Week November 30th-December 4th - Santa Claus

The Holidays - Part I - Santa Claus! Since next Sunday is December 6th, we will celebrate the Holidays with a whole week dedicated to the big guy - Santa Claus, Saint Nicolas or Father Christmas. Make an adorable handprint Santa, learn the sign for Santa and how to Santa Claus in three languages, and much more. Enjoy!

The link above gives some history about Santa Claus and here is another site that also tells about the real Saint Nicolas. In reading this, I learned that the reason we get oranges in our stockings was because Saint Nicolas supposedly threw gold through the window and into the shoes of three sisters who had no dowry so they could be married. The oranges in our stockings represent the gold pieces he gave to those sisters.

Letter of the Week: O - for Old Saint Nicolas - point out things that start with "O" - orange, open, over, obtuse. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital O and a lower case o. Draw an O on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now - R, T, S so far. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 6 - When you show your child anything say "6 oranges" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 6. Write the number 6 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 6 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1, 2 and 3. My son knows he's one and can make the gesture when you ask him, so it can be done at this age even.

Songs of the Week: Santa Claus is Coming to Town - This link has the words and the music for the song, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, along with links to other holiday songs.

Story of the Week: Santa Claus is Coming to Town done by Steven Kellogg - This has beautiful illustrations. If you can't find it at the library - usually the librarian will do a display of books for the season - try to find it at your favorite on-line bookseller.

Snack of the Week: Bagel Wreaths - This is a cute snack from the Family Fun website. They suggest using cut up peppers for color. I don't think most toddlers would eat that so you might get creative with what they would eat - color the cream cheese red or green (as they suggest) or sprinkle cut up cucumber, shredded carrots or even cookie sprinkles for a little sweet treat.

Spanish Words of the Week: Instead of just Spanish this week we'll learn how to say Santa Claus in several languages: Sinterklaas = Dutch; Pere Noel = French for Father Christmas; Papá Noel = Spanish for Father Christmas, Christkindle = German

Do It Myself: Hanging Ornaments/Decorations - let your little one be a part of the decorating this year. Make sure you give him/her non-breakable items to hang low on the tree. Also make sure you are careful when you hang your stockings that the stocking holders won't fall on your toddler if he/she pulls on them.

Activity of the Week: Handprint Santa - This is another cute idea from Family Fun's website - you may have to adjust for what's going to work for your little one. We also saw a good idea from the Turkey Handprint idea last week - make one of these every year to track your toddler's growth!

Yoga Pose: Fire Log Pose - This is basically "Indian-Style" sitting but we thought this worked with the Santa theme since he uses the chimney. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Santa Claus, Reindeer, Chimney and Beard. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate. Hope you have a wonderful week!

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Theme for the Week December 7th-11th - Snowmen!

The Holidays - Part II - Snowmen! Although this is not specifically related to the holidays, it is definitely a part of winter fun. This week, we'll learn to make a cotton ball snowman (if real snow isn't available), learn the sign language and Spanish words for snow, snowman, carrot and hat, sing "Frosty the Snowman" and read the adorable book The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs. Enjoy!

The link above takes you to the Family Fun site for All Things Snowman including crafts, snacks and printables! Also, here is a link from ehow.com that gives instructions on how to build a snowman - even tell you to bring out the camera, which is something I always forget!

Letter of the Week: S - for snowman - point out things that start with "S" - snow, spoon, snake, see, silly. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital S and a lower case s. Draw an S on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now - R, T, S, B, D and Y so far. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 7 - When you show your child anything say "7 silly snakes" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 7. Write the number 7 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 7 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1, 2 and 3. My son knows he's one and can make the gesture when you ask him, so it can be done at this age even.

Songs of the Week: Frosty the Snowman - This link has the words and the music for the song, written by Steve "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson. Gene Autry helped make this song famous when he recorded it as a follow-up to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This link has some great history about this song if you scroll through the lyrics.

Story of the Week: The Snowman by Raymond Briggs - This is a classic story and the link here is to the board book version. If you can't find it at the library - usually the librarian will do a display of books for the season - try to find it at your favorite on-line bookseller.

Snack of the Week: Carrots - This is a link to an ehow site that has lots of different ideas of what to do with carrots - dipping them in peanut butter, hummus, yogurt, etc. Please make sure you are comfortable giving carrots to your child. If you think he or she is too young yet, you can soften them by microwaving them a bit or shred them. My son will eat shredded carrots if I dip them in ranch dressing.

Spanish Words of the Week: el muñeco de nieve = snowman, nieve = snow, la zanahoria = carrot, el sombrero = hat

Do It Myself: Shovel snow (or sand) - If you are lucky enough to have some snow on the ground (as we are here in Colorado) you can let your toddler "help" shovel a little bit. Make sure you keep an eye on your child since the edges of the shovel can be pointy. If you don't have snow, or live in a warm place, have your toddler shovel some sand from the sandbox.

Activity of the Week: Snowball Santa - Here is a cute idea for a toddler-appropriate craft from the www.familyplayandlearn.com website. They also have an idea for making an indoor snowman, if it's too cold to play outside, like it is here right now. As I write this, it's 5 degrees! You can also explain why water freezes and if you have a plastic bottle, fill it with water and place it outside overnight (if it's going to be below freezing where you live) or in the freezer and then in the morning, show your child what happens to the water.

Yoga Pose: Happy Baby Pose - Since there's nothing snowman or snow related in yoga that I know of, I'm suggesting this pose. It's easy and fun and your kids will think it's hilarious and certainly think you look hilarious doing it too. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Snowman, Snow, Carrot, Winter Hat, Mitten. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate. Hope you have a wonderful week! PS - in last week's poll, 100% of you said you tell your kids about Santa!.

Theme for the Week December 14th-18th - Hanukkah!

The link above takes you to the Dr. Spock site for tons of kid-appropriate Hanukkah information and activities including crafts, snacks and activities! You'll want to find some gelt at the store - that's chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil (I'm pretty sure Target or Cost Plus World Market carries some). My friend Julie says that's a favorite tradition around her house and is used in several games that are toddler-appropriate at this website. Hide and seek with gelt and the beanbag toss for gelt prizes seems like some good fun!

Letter of the Week: H - for Hanukkah - point out things that start with "H" - hand, hold, hammer, hair. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital H and a lower case h. Draw an H on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now - R, T, S, B, D, A, C and Y so far. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw this link on Twitter about how to teach your toddler the alphabet, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 8 - For the 8 nights of Hanukkah. When you show your child anything say "8 hairy hounds" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 8. Write the number 8 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 8 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8. My son knows he's one and can make the gesture when you ask him, so it can be done at this age even.

Songs of the Week: Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah - This link takes you to a sample of the Bare Naked Ladies' version, which is SO fun. Their Holiday album has some fun stuff on it for both Christmas and Hanukkah; this link gives you the lyrics and a link to buy the album. Several websites I was looking at recommended this album as a really fun kid Hanukkah album with klezmer music and jokes - Oy Vey Chanukah!

Story of the Week: Hanukkah Books and Stories - As with Christmas, it's so hard to pick just one story or book this week! The first link for Books is to an Amazon search that lists all kinds of books for kids. The first one is Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman and Lisa McCue, which is out of stock but you can look for it at the library. The second link for Stories is to a site with a ton of audio stories your child might listen to. Not sure if they'll sit still for the entire story but you can try!

Snack of the Week: Matzo with Jam - One of my friends Juli, remembers eating this as a kid. Matzo is more of a Passover item but it's easy to find in the ethnic food aisle of your grocery store. Super easy! Another traditional food for Hanukkah is latkes (potato pancakes) which are delicious but are not appropriate for a small child to prepare since they are cooked in oil. But they are sure good!

Words of the Week: Since Hanukkah is a Jewish tradition, here is a little story about the different spellings of the word. Dreidel - small top, Menorah - candelabrum used in the Hanukkah ceremony, Sufganiyot - jelly doughnut (the link is a funny little video for you to watch about them) and Maoz Tzor - "Rock of Ages"

Do It Myself: Set the Table - One of the fundamental tenants of Hanukkah is generosity and a tradition is to set an extra spot at the table for a stranger who might wander in during the meal. Have your child help set the table by carrying a few non-breakable items to the table.

Activity of the Week: Dreidel - Here is a printable template for making a paper dreidel, which you will need to help with and here are the instructions. And here is how to play. Also, another suggestions is to let your child decorate a paper plate at the "extra" spot in case someone stops by during your meal. The traditional colors of Hanukkah are blue, white and silver.

Yoga Pose: Child's Pose - Since the two poses anywhere close to this week's theme are extremely advanced (Check out 8-angle pose and Firefly pose for a good laugh), I'm suggesting this pose. It's easy and a nice back stretch. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Hanukkah, Candle, Light and Family. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate. Hope you have a wonderful week! PS - in last week's poll, 100% of you said you tell your kids about Santa!

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week December 21st-January 1st - Christmas!

The Holidays - Part IV - Christmas! This week we will celebrate the traditions of Christmas. We especially like our link to Christmas Traditions Around the World, which was written by an Australian so make sure you read that. We'll sing The Chipmunk Song, make a Christmas Tree craft, learn how to say Merry Christmas in sign language and so much more! Enjoy!

We'll do a double week of fun for the holidays this week. This whole month is filled with special days - Winter Solstice on December 21st, Boxing Day/Feast of St. Stephen on December 26th, St. Basil's Day on January 1st, St. Lucia's Day on December 13th and many more. We think of Christmas in North America with snow, and cold and fires in the fireplace but in places like Brazil and Australia, it's summer time. They have picnics and go surfing to celebrate this most wonderful day. Of course the real reason we celebrate is because God gave us his ultimate gift- his presence (presents!) on Earth - Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

Letter of the Week: C - for Christmas - point out things that start with "C" - Christmas tree, cup, cold, carrot. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital C and a lower case c. Draw a C on paper, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now - R, T, S, B, D, A, C and Y so far. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw a link about how to teach your toddler the alphabet on Twitter, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 12 - For the 12th month of the year. When you show your child anything say "12 carrots" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 12. Write the number 12 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 12 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8.

Songs of the Week: The Chipmunk Song - Not exactly what you would call a traditional Christmas song but the kids LOVE it because of the funny voices and when Alvin gets yelled at. This link has the words and the song.

Story of the Week: Twas the Night Before Christmas - by Clement Clarke Moore. It is impossible to chose exactly the right story because there are SO many. If you go to the library, there should be a display of holiday books to choose from. The first link here is a fantastic audio reading of the poem and the second is a link to the words and a biography of Clement Clarke Moore.

Snack of the Week: Sugar Cookies - We try to give healthy ideas for snacks but this week we just couldn't resist giving you some decorating ideas for Santa's cookies. If you don't have time for scratch cookies, slice and bake work great. This link has SO many cute cookie ideas - we especially love the "Snow Globe" cookies - we've never seen anything like them. Don't forget to leave some out for Santa with some milk! In Denmark, the kids leave out milk or rice pudding for the elves who help distribute toys and in Spain, the kids leave their shoes on the window sills with hay and carrots for the Three Kings' horses.

Words of the Week: Feliz Navidad = Merry Christmas, el árbol = tree, la chimenea = chimney, la media = stocking

Do It Myself: Distributing Presents - On Christmas (or whenever you open gifts) you can tell your toddler who gets what gift and they can help by handing the gift to the right person. Good luck :)

Activity of the Week: Pom Pon Christmas Tree - You can cut out the shape of a Christmas tree from green construction paper. Then, you can let your toddler decorate the tree with sequins, pom pons, ribbon, tissue paper, and glue. Also, if you are feeling adventurous, you can let your child help decorate a Gingerbread House - click the link to take you to a link for over 400 pictures of gingerbread houses for inspiration!

Yoga Pose: Tree Pose - for Christmas Tree. There are variations that make it more balance-friendlier; you can put your foot on the opposite ankle or on your calf muscle. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.

Sign Language Sign of the Week: Merry Christmas, Tree, Stocking, Jesus. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate. Hope you have a wonderful week! PS - in last week's poll, 100% of you said you tell your kids about Santa!